The Charlotte Hornets already have a budding superstar in LaMelo Ball. Now they might bring in Mike D'Antoni, who may just be the right kind of coach to max out Ball's potential.
NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski announced that D’Antoni will meet with owner team owner Michael Jordan later this week for the Hornets' Head Coaching Position.
Mike D’Antoni is set to meet with Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan on the franchise’s coaching job today, sources tell ESPN. D’Antoni was the other Charlotte finalist before Kenny Atkinson changed his mind on accepting position and stayed in Golden State on Saturday.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 21, 2022
If D'Antoni does get the job, who's to say Ball won't blossom into an MVP-caliber player? Remember that D'Antoni turned Steve Nash & James Harden into MVPs, so why not with Ball?
The odds look to be in the Italian-American tactician's favor. Another finalist for the Hornets post, Kenny Atkinson, decided to flake on being the team's head coach. He chose to return to the defending champion Golden State Warriors instead.
D'Antoni's achievements speak for themselves.
Article Continues BelowHe has an overall coaching record of 678-533. That's close to a 56.0% win rate. He has had multiple 60-win seasons over the course of his long career, and he is also a two-time NBA Coach of the Year.
He is also known for his high-octane, uptempo style of play. That seems like a good fit for LaMelo Ball's skill-set. In the right situation and with the right complementary pieces, Ball could be the superstar alpha that the Hornets need in the years to come.
At just 20 years old, Ball is already a stud. He was named an All-Star in just his second NBA season. LaMelo finished the year averaging 20.1 points, 7.6 assists, and 6.7 rebounds per game. He is clearly already a top-shelf guard in the NBA, and it's exciting to imagine what he could become under D'Antoni's tutelage.
With the news that Michael Jordan is meeting with Mike D'Antoni today, make sure you read @iohandles article on how he could unlock LaMelo Ballhttps://t.co/qhsUPpzf7D
— All Hornets (@All_Hornets) June 21, 2022